Fight Voter Suppression
Keep Democracy Alive
RESOLVED: In 2021, we will pass the For the People Act (HR1/S1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act (HR4)
The For the People Act is plausibly the most important legislation considered by Congress in decades. It would change the basic structure of U.S. politics, making it far more small-d democratic. The bill makes illegal essentially all of the anti-enfranchisement tactics perfected by the right over the past decades. It then creates a new infrastructure to permanently bolster the influence of regular people.
The bill’s provisions largely fall into three categories: First, it makes it far easier to vote, both by eliminating barriers and enhancing basic outreach to citizens. Second, it makes everyone’s vote count more equally, especially by reducing gerrymandering. Third, it hugely amplifies the power of small political donors, allowing them to match and possibly swamp the power of big money.[1]
The John Lewis Voting Rights Act of 2021 aims to restore Federal jurisdiction over states with a history of voter suppression. While the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act will protect the right to vote, which is absolutely crucial as state legislatures across the country are creating new barriers to voting, the For the People Act will also move the ball forward by creating new national standards that expands the freedom to vote and makes our elections more accessible. Without the For the People Act, the Voting Rights Act would only combat current voter suppression efforts.[2]
Keep the Pressure on Our Electeds
Call or Email Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and voice your support for pro-democracy legislation and urge him to do whatever is necessary to pass these bills. Script here: https://www.indivisibleulster.com/2021/full-court-press-round-2/
Write Letters to the Editor. Keep sounding the alarm about voter suppression, gerrymandering, and dark money in politics. Letters to your local paper is a great way of advocating for major reforms and shaping public opinion. Learn more here.
Connect with Voters in Other States
Send Postcards with Reclaim Our Vote. To urge Arizona Senator Kristin Sinema to vote yes on For The People Act (S1) .It must pass in the senate to override voter suppression bills approved by Georgia, Florida, and pending other states. Contact rov.ulster@gmail.com for postcards and addresses.
Make Calls with Common Cause. Start calling voters in West Virginia and Arizona and connecting them to their Senators to support the For the People Act (S1) and eliminate the filibuster. Training provided. These zoom phonebanks are hosted by Common Cause to demand bold changes to our democracy to create a government that represents all of us, not big corporations or special interests!
Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/376178/
Send Texts with Common Cause to constituents of targeted Senators and patching them through to their Senator’s office phone line.
Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/commoncause/event/375794/
Write letters to voters with Vote Forward. Send personalized letters to targeted voters to increase the participation of traditionally under-represented groups in the electorate.
Select a campaign here: https://votefwd.org/campaigns
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